Intensity by Dean Koontz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dean Koontz is one of my recent favorite writers. He is the only writer that I love and admire in the psychological/horror thrillers.
He himself has mentioned that intensity was one of his best works, so I had to read it.
He was not wrong, the book is a benchmark for suspense thrillers. Absolute rendition of psycho-thriller with just two main characters and a usual plot, but considerable dedication into the character developments.
Chyna Shepherd, the protagonist was one of the best creations I have read and also a wonderfully convincing portrayal.
Edgler Foreman Vess, the antagonist, was unlike all the other psychopaths who used to have some form of a flashback in their past where they would have started to derail into this killing machinery. But, Vess was a different being. He’s a pure psycho who loves to kill just because he can and he wants to. No past trauma, no trigger points. Immaculately well-written character.
Now, the plot, a vulnerable and aversive protagonist vs a formidable and psychopathic antagonist.
From the very first page, the plot started burning through my fingers. It was all too good and ultimately suspenseful. Templeton’s house sequences could easily be the best suspenseful read where the readers are left hanging at every page.
When the flow of the plot turned the other way – when Vess knows about Chyna and she doesn’t know that he knows. Then the lion’s territory – My God! I could swear I was sweating during their face-off. The story moved at a definite pace of suspense.
Chyna’s escape plan and severely challenging maneuvers was mind-numbing. Ariel’s lost character was justifiable and the end of “holding on to hope” drove home the intended point.
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